Biblical Examples of God's Character and Ways of Working
Scripture presents God's character and ways of working through concrete narratives, poetic declarations, and prophetic visions that reveal consistent patterns across diverse circumstances. The psalmist invites readers to "Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men" [6], framing divine action as both observable and worthy of sustained attention.
God's Works Display His Character
The biblical text repeatedly connects God's actions to his essential attributes. Psalm 33:4 establishes that "God's word displays his character and his power" [10], suggesting that what God does reveals who God is. Job 37:5 declares that "He does great things, which we can't comprehend" [7], acknowledging both the magnitude and the mystery of divine activity. One commentary notes that "the works of providence are great, which are daily wrought, especially such as concern the church and people of God" [9], emphasizing that God's greatness manifests in ongoing care rather than only in spectacular interventions.
The harmony within God's varied works reflects his unified purpose. Commenting on Ezekiel's vision, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown observes that "in the wonderful variety of God's works there is the greatest harmony," and that "God's doings, however involved they seem to us, cohere, so that lower causes subserve the higher" [12]. This coherence appears in God's "paths" or "modes of dealing," which consistently express both "mercy and truth"—his grace in promising and faithfulness in performing [11].
Christ as the Pattern
The New Testament presents Christ as the definitive example of God's character made visible. Multiple passages identify Christ as setting the pattern for good works [1], compassion [3], resignation to God's will [4], and holy boldness [5]. The forgiving spirit Job demonstrates toward his friends "foreshadows the love of Jesus Christ and of Christians to enemies" [14], connecting Old Testament narrative to the fuller revelation in Christ.
God's Initiative and Continuation
Philippians 1:6 grounds confidence in God's character: "God, who began the good work within you" can be trusted "to continue his work of changing people into the likeness of his Son" [13]. This pattern—divine initiative followed by faithful completion—appears throughout Scripture's testimony. Job 33:29 notes that God works "two ways, three, with a man" [2], suggesting repeated, varied interventions rather than a single transaction. The biblical witness thus portrays God as persistently active, working through blessing [8], discipline, and restoration to accomplish purposes that transcend immediate circumstances.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Works, Good — Christ, an example of -- Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38. Called Good fruits. -- Jas 3:17. Fruits meet for repentance. -- Mt 3:8. Fruits of righteousness. -- Php 1:11. Works and labours of love. -- Heb 6:10. Are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God -- Php 1:11. They alone, who abide in Christ can perform -- Joh 15:4,5. Wrought by God in us -- Isa 26:12; Php 2:13. The Scripture designed to lead us to -- 2Ti 3:16,17; Jas 1:25. To be performed in Christ's name -- Col 3:17. Heavenly wisdom is full of -- Jas 3:17. Justification unattainable by -- Ro 3:20; Ga 2”
- Job “Job 33:29 (Rotherham) — Lo! a these things, doth GOD work, two ways, three, with a man;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- Psalms “Psalms 66:5 (NASB) — Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.”
- Job “God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend. -- Job 37:5”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Job 1:10 cross-references: Genesis 15:1, Genesis 26:12, Genesis 30:30, Genesis 30:43, Genesis 39:5, Genesis 49:25, Deuteronomy 7:13, Deuteronomy 28:2, Deuteronomy 33:11, Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Samuel 25:16, Job 1:3, Job 29:6, Job 31:25, Job 42:12, Psalms 5:12, Psalms 34:7, Psalms 71:21, Psalms 80:12, Psalms 90:17, Psalms 107:38, Psalms 128:1, Proverbs 10:22, Isaiah 5:2, Isaiah 5:5, Zechariah 2:5, Zechariah 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 111:2: The works of the Lord are great,.... His works of creation are great, being made out of nothing, are the effects of great power, and the produce of great wisdom, and which greatly display the glory of their Maker; the works of providence are great, which are daily wrought, especially such as concern the church and people of God, for whom he does great things, whereof they have reason to be glad and praise his name; the miracles of Christ he wrought here on earth were surprisingly great, some of them such as had not keen known from the creation of the world; and yet g”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:4: 33:4-7 God’s word displays his character and his power.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 25:10: paths--similar sense--His modes of dealing (compare Psa 25:4). mercy and truth-- (Job 14:1-22), God's grace in promising and faithfulness in performing.”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 10:10: four had one likeness--In the wonderful variety of God's works there is the greatest harmony:-- "In human works, though labored on with pain, One thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; In God's one single doth its end produce, Yet serves to second, too, some other use. (See on Eze 1:16). wheel . . . in . . . a wheel--cutting one another at fight angles, so that the whole might move in any of the four directions or quarters of the world. God's doings, however involved they seem to us, cohere, so that lower causes subserve the higher.”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 1:6: 1:6 God, who began the good work within you: God takes the initiative to work his salvation in people (see Rom 9:16; Eph 1:3-8, 11; 2:4-10), so he can be trusted to continue his work of changing people into the likeness of his Son (see Rom 8:29; Eph 4:13, 15).”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 42:9: The forgiving spirit of Job foreshadows the love of Jesus Christ and of Christians to enemies (Mat 5:44; Luk 23:34; Act 7:60; Act 16:24, Act 16:28, Act 16:30-31).”